Abstract
This study represents an effort to clarify the effects of negative and positive information on performance expectancies of males and females. In testing the effects of feedback on 93 women and 97 men undergraduates, ability level, information condition, self-esteem level, and sex of subject were included in a 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design. Before feedback, males stated higher expectancies ( p < .05) and overestimated their performance more ( p < .05) than did females. Sex by feedback interactions ( p < .02) revealed that after feedback consistent with subjects' ability, males continued to set higher goals and to overestimate their performance more, but that after inconsistent feedback this sex difference did not occur.